I should probably finish

talking about our trip to Michigan.

We left on Highway 31 to Highway 131. As we were driving along, we saw a sign for an Air Zoo. Now I never heard of an Air Zoo, but what made us turn around was the SR-71 on the small bill board.
SR-71 will always be hubby's favorite. Beale AFB, California (back in Regan's time) was our first joint assignment after getting married. So, we turned back and followed the signs to Portage, Michigan. I wish we could have stayed longer; but we saw the important (to hubby) display.

There were a number of these stencils leading from the parking lot to the front door of the Air Zoo. We used to see these all over Kadena AB, Okinawa. Hubby would not admit to doing a few of them himself. ;-)

We looked at a few other displays, like an actual engine from an SR, an interactive weather video and a few other things, but we barely scratched the surface. The SR was one that had been used by NASA, as you can see.

I did see my first one of these, while I was there:

Fortunately I was the only one using it at the time, so I didn't have to wonder...

If you want to know what all you can see (and what we missed), click on this link for the Air Zoo.



And a little store we actually discovered about 4 years ago. Wilson Farm Market. A great little farmer's market type store in Amish country. We specifically made sure to stop there on the way home. And should have bought more! We thought that last time, too.
Click the link to see more, because I didn't think to take pictures. The Pumpkin Roll we bought was great. I thought about getting the Red Velvet one also, but didn't.
We did buy a dozen jumbo brown eggs (hubby's favorite), and they all had double yolks! (Again, hubby's favorite!)

We'll just have to go there again!

You all be safe and God bless!

The temps say it is still summer

Temps during the day this week -- mid to upper 90s. It was 100 when we were in town this afternoon.

But the Spider lilies say it is fall.

Autumnal Equinox later this week. I love seeing the Spider lilies in the fall. It is crazy. They can not be there one day, then after a rain they'll be 4-6 inches tall, or more!

I did a little mowing this morning. Middle son landed a part-time job, so I went out for a bit until about noon. I could tell when I started getting.. the first touches of too much heat. I was drinking plenty of water, but that doesn't always help. I got inside fine, though. No graying of the vision or anything like that. I did get the slight pressure in my head that said I was getting too warm. I decided to listen to that today. :)

But I will probably go out again in a day or two. Pecan season is almost here. Need to get ready!

Sorry for the blur. My phone camera doesn't like to take a picture of what I'm looking at. Ha!
I picked that pecan and cracked it open after I came in. Shared it with hubby. He said "I could eat more of those." :)
How do we get ready for pecan season, you may ask? We mow crop circles, basically. With the pecan tree in the middle. Mow a circle that is as big in diameter as the branches are sticking out from the tree. Long grass may be good for hunting rabbits; but short grass is better for picking pecans.

You all be safe, and God bless.

Better late than never?

The end of last month, I went to visit my Mom in Michigan. She turned 85 last month and I hadn't seen her in a couple years, so I was overdue for a visit.
Most of the trip was a blur of drive, sleep, drive some more; but there were a few highlights -- of which seeing my Mom was the best!

We brought about 15 pounds of frozen smelt back with us. :) No we didn't catch it. I am not one for getting up at 2 in the morning any more, and they only run once a year in Michigan that I am aware of. I would have to be in Northern Michigan in the spring to dip them out of whatever stream they were running in. Did dip netting in Alaska when we were stationed there, that was enough for me.
Now what is so great about smelt? My dad used to fish for them. They are a little fish, averaging about 3 - 4 inches, I think, though there are bigger ones also. They look like this:

Picture from Wikipedia.

They are hard to clean, being so small. (The ones we bought in the store were already cleaned!) But when you are done you use a light breading and deep fry them and eat them bones and all! Yes. Good stuff. My dad used to fish all the time and I do like to eat fish. :)

I thought I took a lot of pictures, but the camera photos tell me that I did not.

Something that struck me as unusual was this:

I can honestly say I never saw anything like it growing up.

We also went to Shipshewana, Indiana. It is an Amish community that one of my brothers always shops at. They do have a lot of nice furniture there, but we weren't looking to buy that. We went for the flea market!
It is a really big flea market (roughly 40 acres). Unlike most flea markets that are open on the weekend, this one is open on Tuesday and Wednesday May through September 26th. They also have an indoor market from October through mid December on Fridays and Saturdays. You can find out all about it on their website.
I walked about two-thirds of it. Hubby had a cart and went through all of it. It has something for everyone. And we found one vendor outside one gate that was more like what we like to see in a flea market. :) (I think if you click on the pictures, they get bigger.) We got there just before opening hours at 8 AM, is why so many of the vendors weren't open yet.

And when I say something for everyone?

Yes. A Trump flag.

And we have one in our living room now. ;-)

We saw a lot of these on the road.

But there were a lot of bicycles, too.

We had dinner at The Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery. (And yes, I forgot to take pictures.) It was a two level building with restrooms on the second floor. A lot of Amish were eating there and one older gentleman got on the elevator with my husband; but didn't know how to make the elevator work.

Another highlight besides the flea market was Yoder's Meat and Cheese. They put out plenty of test cups to try the different cheeses. We ended up buying a couple types of Swiss, Butter cheese and Colby cheese. I also grabbed a package of Bacon Cheddar Brats. I should have known with that name that they would be really good; but I didn't and only bought one package. They are really good. None of that burning or reflux associated with so many commercial brats. I wish I had bought more. They also have grass fed and grain fed meats. Definitely worth a stop if you are ever in the area. Check out their website to learn more.

There is more to tell about our trip -- well, a little, anyway; but I think I have shared enough for now.
You all be safe and God bless.